Machine for cutting rolls of sheet material

ABSTRACT

Machine for cutting rolls of sheet material, in particular paper, prior to reworking. A heavy knife with horizontallydisposed cutting edge is forced downwardly in guided translation to make a radial cut in the roll. The knife is carried by a pair of vertical racks which are synchronously forced downwardly by a motor, acting through speed-reducing means.

United States Patent Ellison [45] July 11,1972

[54] MACHINE FOR CUTTING ROLLS OF SHEET MATERIAL [72] inventor: WilliamC. Ellison, Route 2. Box l0O6-B,

Chester, Va. 23831 [22] Filed: Aug.2l, 1970 [21] Appl.No.: 66,027

[52] US. Cl 83/629, 83/635. 83/648, 83/924 [51] Int. 5/08 {58] FieldoISearclL. ..83/924. 629, 635, 178, I79, 83/54; 28/19 [56] ReferencesCited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,481,162 9/!949 Seely ..83/629 X 558,8644/l 896 Van Osta ..83/629 2,804,l40 8/l957 Van Riper... .u83/54 X3,160,044 l2/l964 Somendile ..83/924 X 3,l63,066 12/1964 Beaulieu et al.......i........83/924 X Primary Examiner--Frank T. YostArtorneyElizabeth Newton Dew 57 ABSTRACT Machine for cutting rolls ofsheet material, in particular paper, prior to reworking. A heavy knifewith horizontally-disposed cutting edge is forced downwardly in guidedtranslation to make a radial cut in the roll. The knife is carried by apair of vertical racks which are synchronously forced downwardly by amotor, acting through speed-reducing means.

8Clairm,6Drawlngl1gures SPEED REDUCER PMENIEBJHL I 1 11/2 SHEET 10F 3REDUCER FIG. 1

INVENTOR WILLIAM c. ELLISON (SW 7 6M FlllL ATTORNEY PATENTEDJIII I II972 SHEET. 2 CF 3 I|I.|IIIIIIII I I II INVENTOR ATTORNEY WILLIAM c.ELLISON a id I;

60 UP 6| UP LIMIT SWITCH O O 0 DOWN 21 .62 IO MACHINE FOR CUTTING ROLLSOF SHEET MATERIAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Sheet paper coming fromthe Fourdrinier or like type of machine, is in the form of a ribbonseveral feet in width. The machine embodies a slitter attachment bywhich the sheet is automatically slit longitudinally into selected ordesired widths. The strips thus formed are collected as individualrolls. The widths of the strips forming these rolls are determined byorders from customers and, of course, the knives of the slitterattachment are adjustable in accordance with these ordered widths. Dueto the facts set forth foregoing, there is usually left over an end orremnant roll for which there is no market or demand. Such remnant rollsmay, for instance, be 7 to 8 inches in width and 3 to 4 feet indiameter.

In order to avoid loss of this remnant paper the rolls thereof areprocessed by placing them in a re-pulper wherein the paper is returnedto pulp form, mixed with new pulp of like grade and fed to theFourdrinier in the usual way. Large savings of usable paper stock arethereby effected.

Before being returned to the re-pulper vat, each aforesaid remnant rollis cut in a radial plane through its axis. The cut extends from theperiphery of the roll to its center or axis, so that the roll maydisintegrate into strips of varying lengths which are thus readilydispersed in the vat and re-worked into pulp.

Formerly the cutting of the remnant rolls was done by hand manipulatedtools or by hand-held power tools. In both cases the work was tiresome,difficult and time-consuming.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A heavy frame of cantilever type has a baseshaped to receive and hold a large heavy roll of sheet material, such aspaper which is to be reworked or reconstituted. Horizontally superposedover the base is a platform mounting two vertical, horizontally-spacedrack bars each guided for vertical translation only by antifrictionbearings carried by the platform. A shaft journaled on the platform hasfixed thereto a pair of pinions each in mesh with a respective one ofthe racks. The rear end of the shaft carries a large worm gear in meshwith a worm fixed to a second shaft and connected with a driving motorthrough speed-reducing means. The lower ends of the rack bars arerigidly attached to and support a heavy knife assembly having ahorizontally-disposed cutting edge which is parallel with, andconstrained to translation only in a vertical plane through the axis ofa roll of paper properly emplaced upon the base. Energization of themotor drives the rack bars and knife assembly downwardly to make aclean, detritus-free cut extending to the axis of the roll. The roll isthus opened to ready access of treating liquid when deposited into a vatthereof. Limit switches are controlled by the translation of the knifeassembly, or by one rack bar, to afford precise and automatic control ofthe reversible driving motor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a front elevation showing aroll of material to be cut, in position on the base of the machine andthe knife in contact with the roll, ready to descend in a cuttingoperation;

FIG. 2 is a partially-broken side elevation to a scale reduced from thatof FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view to about the same scale as FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a detail sectional view in a plane identified by line 4-4,FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a detail sectional view in a plane identified by line 5-5,FIG. 3; and

FIG. 6 is a simplified wiring diagram of the motor control.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A heavy metallic frame generallyidentified at I, includes spaced parallel bars or feet 2 and 3 eachhaving the lower end of a respective one of vertical columns 4 and 5fixed to and rising therefrom. From FIG. 2 it is noted that column 4,for ex ample, is attached to its foot 2 at a location between the centerand rear end thereof. Column 5 is attached to its foot 3 at a similarlocation and thus lies directly behind column 4 as the parts are viewedupon FIG. 2.

At their top ends columns 4 and 5 are rigidly attached, as by welding,to hollow or tubular beams 6 and 7, it being noted from FIG. 2 inparticular, that the beams are of about the same length as feet 2 and 3and have their ends substantially in vertical registration therewith.The cantilever frame thus formed affords an open space between the feetand bars and within which the knife may operate as subsequentlydescribed. A rear reinforcing column shown at 9, FIG. 2, has its ends,lower and upper, rigidly attached to the corresponding ends of foot 2and beam 6. A like reinforcing column not shown, interconnects therearward ends of foot 3 and beam 7. The parts thus forming the heavyrigid frame may be secured together by welding.

A heavy metallic plate 8 has a size of about the same dimensions as therectangle defined by spaced parallel beams 6 and 7, and rests upon andis rigidly secured to the upper horizontally coplanar surfaces of thesebeams. From FIG. 3 it is also noted that plate 8 has a transverseextension 8a for support of the speed reducer and motor, subsequentlydescribed.

Plate 8 has a pair of apertures spaced along and adjacent itslongitudinal center line L, FIG. 3. Two vertical rack bars 10 and II aremounted for guided longitudinal translation in and through therespective apertures. From FIG. 2 in particular it is seen that thelower ends of these rack bars conjointly support a knife assembly 12 andwhich may consist of a heavy backing bar 13 and a blade 14 rigidly butremovably secured to the bar. The blade is removable to facilitaterepair, sharpening and replacement when necessary.

A shaft 15 is journaled in aligned bearing blocks l6, l7 and 18 boltedto the top of plate 8. The shaft extends rearwardly as shown upon FIG. 3and at a location adjacent rear bearing 18 has a relatively large heavyworm gear 19 keyed thereto. Also keyed or otherwise fixed to shaft 15are pinions 20 and 21, in mesh with rack bars 11 and II), respectively.

In order to positively guide the rack bars in vertical translation only,by and in response to rotation of shaft 15, and to hold each positivelyin mesh with its pinion 20 or 21, as the case may be, each rack isprovided with identical guide roller means as best shown at FIG. 4 forrack bar 10. Thus, referring to this figure, an upper bracket 22 isrigidly attached to the top surface of plate 8 and has a hole throughits vertical leg, to accommodate a threaded rod 23. The rod isadjustably fixed relatively to the bracket by nuts 24 and 25, in amanner clear from inspection of the figure.

A yoke 26 is fixed to the inner end of rod 23 and by means ofantifriction ball or roller bearings, journals a roller 27 having smoothcontact with the planar back surface of bar 10. From FIG. 4 it is notedthat a horizontal plane through the axis of roller 27 passes above thecorresponding plane through the axis of shaft 15.

Below plate 8 a second threaded rod 28 extends through horizontallyaligned holes in hollow beam 6 and carries at its inner end ayoke-and-roller combination 29, 30 like that just described for rod 23.The roller is adjusted for a smooth fit against rack bar 10, below thehorizontal plane through the axis of shaft 15, by nuts 31, 32, as isclear from FIG. 4.

The guide rollers for rack bar ll, upper and lower, and their mountings,are duplicates of those just described for bar 10, so that it issufficient to identify top bracket 33, top roller 34, its yoke 35. Alsoidentified at FIG. 3 is threaded rod 37 on the inner end of which isfixed the yoke journaling the lower guide roller for rack bar I l, andsimilar in construction, purpose and function to roller 30 for bar 10,as previously described.

By the construction just described, rack bars l0, l1 and knife assembly12 fixed to the lower ends thereof, are guided for accurate translationin response to rotation of shaft 15, in a vertical plane about midwaybetween columns 4 and 5.

At the rearward portion of base plate 8, a bracket 38 is bolted to thetop surface of the plate. The bracket is apertured to pass shaft IS withclearance and has bearings 39, 40

secured to it, aligned along an axis horizontally transverse to andabove shaft 15. These bearings journal a shaft 41. The shaft has a worm42 fixed thereto, and in mesh with gear 19 previously mentioned.

Shaft 41 is coupled at 43 to the output of a conventional speed reducer44 bolted to extension 80 of base plate 8. At its outward end speedreducer 44 mounts a bracket 45 on which driving motor 46 is fixed, withits shaft coupled at 47 to the input of the reducer. The motor isreversible so that in one direction of rotation by the connectionspreviously described, knife assembly 12 is positively forced downwardly.while in its other direction of rotation it is retracted upwardly.Referring to FIG. 1, it is noted that a concavely-upward arcuate plate48 has its opposite edges secured to bars 2 and 3, for support of a rollof material R such as paper or like sheet material. The plate is soproportioned and disposed that when a roll R is located thereon, thevertical radial plane through its axis coincides with the vertical planeof translation of the cutting edge of blade 14.

As a valuable adjunct l have provided the attachment shown upon FIG. 5.A pair of parallel duplicate arms, one of which appears at 49, havetheir upper ends pivoted in bearing brackets fixedly attached to theunder side of bean 6, for conjoint pivoting about a common horizontalaxis. The arms are parallel and between their ends are twisted 90 tojournal between them, at their distal ends, a roller 50. The arms suchas 49 are interconnected between their ends, by a rod 51 which, at aboutits mid point passes through the loop at one end of an eye-bolt 52. Thisbolt extends upwardly through an opening 53 in plate 8.

Above plate 8 the bolt is surrounded by a compression spring 54surmounted by a collar 55 and nut 56 so that in a way obvious frominspection of FIG. 5, the force with which spring 54 urges bolt 52upwardly can be varied as desired or necessary. When the cutter or knifeassembly is in its normal upper or raised position, roller 50 bearsagainst one beveled edge of knife 14 as shown, and thus in a way clearfrom inspection of FIG. 5, yieldingly holds it in elevated position.When the knife is forced downwardly by energization of motor 46, roller50 rides on the smooth planar rear faces of rack bars and 11 and returnsto the position shown automatically when the knife is again elevated toinactive position. Further, during downward cutting motion of the knifethe attachment acts through roller 50 to assist in guiding the knife andrack bar assembly in smooth movement, without loose play.

FIG. 6 shows a simplified wiring diagram. Closure of main switch 57readies the machine for operation. With a roll of paper in correctposition on support 48, below knife 14, and with the knife elevated,when "down switch 58 is manually closed and held in such position, motor46 is energized through down-limit switch 59 and by the constructionpreviously described the knife is thrust downwardly to make a clean cutin the subjacent roll of paper. When the cut has been completed, switch58 is released to stop motor 46 and then up switch 60 may be manuallyclosed and held closed to reverse motor 46 and thereby effect upwardretraction of the knife. This circuit passes through up-limit switch 61.The normally-closed limit switches 59 and 61 are vertically adjustablyfixed to suitable brackets on the frame. Switch 59 is located so that itwill be engaged and opened by a lug 62 fixed with the top end of rackbar 10 a little after the knife arrives at the center or axis of theroll R. Similarly, up-limit switch 61 is so positioned that it will beengaged and opened by lug 62 when and as the knife moves into a positiona little above its normal uppermost position. Thus as a safety featurethese limit switches prevent excessive over-travel of the knife, bothdownwardly and upwardly. Lamps 63 and 64 which may be of differentcolor, are inserted into the up and down circuits respectively, and givea visual indication of the circuit actually closed at any given instant.

As numerous substitutions of equivalents, and changes of shape, form andrelations and locations of the parts will readily occur to those skilledin the art, after a study of the foregomg disclosure, the disclosure ISto be taken in an illustrative rather than a limiting sense.

lclaim:

l. A cutting machine comprising a frame, a platform fixed atop saidframe, a first shaft journaled on said platform on one side thereof, forrotation on a first axis parallel therewith, first and second parallelrack bars spaced along said first axis and extending through aperturesin said platform, normal thereto, first and second pinions fixed to saidshaft in spaced relation therealong, in engagement with said rack bars,respectively, a first pair of rollers journaled on a second axisparallel with said first axis and fixed with said platform, each rollerof said first pair being in rolling contact with the planar face of arespective one of said rack bars, opposite to the teeth thereof, and asecond pair of rollers journaled on a third axis fixed with saidplatform, parallel with said second axis, parallel planes through saidsecond and third axes and parallel with said platform, lying on oppositesides, respectively, of said first axis.

2. The machine of claim I, and means mounting each said roller on saidframe, for adjustment toward and from its respective rack bar.

3. The machine of claim 1, said plane of said second axis lying on saidone side of and parallel with said platform, more remote therefrom thansaid first axis, said third axis lying on said other side of theplatform.

4. The machine of claim 3, said frame including spaced, ground-engagingfoot bars, and mounting said platform horizontally elevated above andspaced relation with said foot bars, said knife assembly including acutting edge essentially in the plane determined by said rack bars, andmeans carried by said foot bars for supporting and holding a roll ofsheet material to be cut, with its axis horizontal and in the verticalplane through and below said cutting edge.

5. The machine of claim 1, a worm gear fixed with said first shaft, asecond shaft journaled on said platform for rotation on an axis normalto and offset from said first axis, a worm gear fixed to said secondshaft and in mesh with said gear, a driving motor, and speed reducermeans carried by said platform and interconnecting said motor with saidsecond shaft.

6. The machine of claim 5, a lug fixed to one said rack bars andprojecting therefrom, and a control circuit for said motor includingupward and downward normally closed switches in the path of said lug, tobe opened thereby when said knife assembly is substantially in itsuppermost and downwardmost limiting positions, respectively.

7. The machine of claim I, a pair of spaced parallel arms, bearing meanspivoting said arms at one end thereof, on an axis offset from andparallel with said first axis, a backing roller journaled by and betweensaid arms at the distal ends thereof, brace means interconnecting saidarms for pivoting as a unit, and spring means connected with said armsand urging said backing roller with adjustable force, into engagementwith the planar faces of both said rack bars.

8. The machine of claim 7, said knife assembly including a cutting bladewith beveled edge, said backing roller yieldingly engaging said bevelededge when said knife assembly is in upper position, to releasably holdsaid assembly in upper position.

1. A cutting machine comprising a frame, a platform fixed atop said frame, a first shaft journaled on said platform on one side thereof, for rotation on a first axis parallel therewith, first and second parallel rack bars spaced along said first axis and extending through apertures in said platform, normal thereto, first and second pinions fixed to said shaft in spaced relation therealong, in engagement with said rack bars, respectively, a first pair of rollers journaled on a second axis parallel with said first axis and fixed with said platform, each roller of said first pair being in rolling contact with the planar face of a respective one of said rack bars, opposite to the teeth thereof, and a second pair of rollers journaled on a third axis fixed with said platform, parallel with said second axis, parallel planes through said second and third axes and parallel with said platform, lying on opposite sides, respectively, of said first axis.
 2. The machine of claim 1, and means mounting each said roller on said frame, for adjustment toward and from its respective rack bar.
 3. The machine of claim 1, said plane of said second axis lying on said one side of and parallel with said platform, more remote therefrom than said first axis, said third axis lying on said other side of the platform.
 4. The machine of claim 3, said frame including spaced, ground-engaging foot bars, and mounting said platform horizontally elevated above and spaced relation with said foot bars, said knife assembly including a cutting edge essentially in the plane determined by said rack bars, and means carried by said foot bars for supporting and holding a roll of sheet material to be cut, with its axis horizontal and in the vertical plane through and below said cutting edge.
 5. The machine of claim 1, a worm gear fixed with said first shaft, a second shaft journaled on said platform for rotation on an axis normal to and offset from said first axis, a worm gear fixed to said second shaft and in mesh with said gear, a driving motor, and speed reducer means carried by said platform and interconnecting said motor with said second shaft.
 6. The machine of claim 5, a lug fixed to one said rack bars and projecting therefrom, and a control circuit for said motor including upward and downward normally closed switches in the path of said Lug, to be opened thereby when said knife assembly is substantially in its uppermost and downwardmost limiting positions, respectively.
 7. The machine of claim 1, a pair of spaced parallel arms, bearing means pivoting said arms at one end thereof, on an axis offset from and parallel with said first axis, a backing roller journaled by and between said arms at the distal ends thereof, brace means interconnecting said arms for pivoting as a unit, and spring means connected with said arms and urging said backing roller with adjustable force, into engagement with the planar faces of both said rack bars.
 8. The machine of claim 7, said knife assembly including a cutting blade with beveled edge, said backing roller yieldingly engaging said beveled edge when said knife assembly is in upper position, to releasably hold said assembly in upper position. 